Impact indicator for containers



June 24, 1952 J. P. KERRIGAN IMPACT INDICATOR FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec.28, 1949 Fig.2

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Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IMPACT INDICATOR FORCONTAINERS John P. Kerrigan, Merchantville, N. J.

Application December 28, 1949, Serial No. 135,368

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to containers for shipping merchandise andmore particularly to a shock or impact indicating or recording unitincluded as a component part of a container.

In the handling of merchandise for shipment in cartons, containers,crates, boxes or the like there is a sequence of handling operations inany one of which the container may be dropped or so improperly passed onfrom one handler to another as to cause damage to the contents. At thepresent time, in so far as applicant is advised, no means are providedto indicate at what point in the handling chain blame or responsibilityresides for merchandise damage, and it is only when the containerreaches the ultimate customer or jobber that damage in handling orshipping is discovered. In consequence, there is no way to trace backthrough the sequence of handling to locate just when the container wasso mishandled as to cause damage, and thus definitely fix the blame orliability.

Some of the objects of the present invention are: to provide a novelaccessory for a merchandise shipping container; to provide a visuallyobservable unit as a part of a packaged container for indicating impactor shock to the container greater than a predetermined value as a meansof ascertaining at What place in the sequence of handling operations thecontainer was subjected to such a shock as to cause damage to thecontents; to provide a unit as a part of a packaged container forrecording such a shock to a packaged container as has damaged thecontents and thus fix the responsibility where it definitely belongs; toprovide a merchandise container having a window through which a shockindicator or recorder can be viewed during the transportation of thepackaged container from the shipping place to the ultimate destination;and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a vertical fragmentarysection of a container equipped with a shock indicating unit embodyingone form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary sideelevation showing a window as one means of observing the unit in acontainer; Fig. 3 represents a plan ofa shock indicating unit embodyinga modified form of the invention; Fig. 4 represents a section on line4-; of the unit of Fig. 3; showing the same arranged to be placed in acontainer; Fig. 5 represents a vertical longitudinal section of a shockindicating unit embodying another modification of the invention; Fig. 6represents a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 represents avertical longitudinal section of a modified {form of unit for visiblyrecording shocks received by a container in which the unit is mounted;Fig 8 represents an end elevation of the unit of Fig. 7 showing therecording target as mounted for viewing through a hole or window in thecontainer having the unit therein; and Fig. 9 represents a section online 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, this form of the inventioncomprises a frame ll] arranged to be mounted within a container H inalinement with a window l2 provided at a convenient location in thecontainer but here shown as in the top thereof. The frame In supports aball [3, preferably confined by the walls of the frame H) but visiblethrough the window [2. This ball i3 is formed as an envelope ofrelatively thin glass or other easily fractured frangible material,which ruptures or shatters with audible sound under an impact ofpredetermined amplitude, with consequent visual indication of suchimpact.

In order to subject the ball l3 to shocks or impacts received by thecontainer in handling or transit, a loose weight M is incorporated inthe ball I3 and normally rests by gravity upon'the lowermost portion ofthe inner ball wall. When so assembled the frangible ball remains intactuntil such time as the container receives such a shock as would causedamage to the contents of the container, at which time the ball (3 willbe projected against the ball wall with sufiicient force to shatter theball. Thereafter, the next recipient of the container looks through thewindow I2 and noting the absence of the ball immediately knows thatdamage has occurred during the preceding transit step of the container,whereupon the observer refuses to accept the container or reports thediscovery.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, a modified form of theinvention is shown, wherein the unit comprises a frame iormed of a base15, and one or two upstanding posts is and i1 serve as the support forthe impact indicating mechanism. In the present instance, this mechanismcomprises a bifurcated spring l8 projecting in parallel spaced relationfrom a bridge piece 20, here shown as fixed to the inner face of thepost l6 by suitable fastening means 2|. The two spring parts terminatein spaced relation to the post I! and are so biased as to grip an impactactuated ball-shaped weight 22 between them. Apertures 23 are formed inthe respective spring parts, such apertures being in alinement to seatdiametrically opposite side portions of the ball weight 22. The post I!may be found unnecessary because it is only provided as an additionalanchoring means for the unit where the selected location in thecontainer so requires.

For viewing the spring held ball weight 22, the unit can be attachedinside of a container for alinement with a window provided either in theside or top of the container. When mounted to aline with a side window,the observer can note the displacement of the ball because the apertures23 are both exposed, while if the unit is mounted below a window in thetop of the unit, the observer can note the displacement of the ballbecause the spring parts are bowed together due to the absence of theball.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, another modification of theinvention is shown wherein a tube 24, preferably cylindrical, is mountedbetween two end posts 25 rising from a base 26. The tube 24 is formed ofthin frangible material such as glass and encircles a spring Wire 21fastened at one end to one of the posts 25 and terminating in a free endmounting an impact member 28, which is preferably formed with end sharpprojections 33 to assist the member 28 in fracturing the tube 24. Whilethe tube 24 is preferably of a frangible nature, it may be made ofeasily dented ductile material.

For viewing purposes, this unit is mounted on the inside of thecontainer in such alinement with a provided window that the presence orabsence of the tube can be immediately discovered by looking through theinspection window. If the tube has been fractured by the blow of thespring-supported impact member it will be observed at once, but on theother hand, if the tube is of ductile material a protruding dent in itssurface will also be observed. In both constructions any observer alongthe line of transit can know where the damage occurred.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings, a further modification ofthe invention is shown, wherein a frame made of a base 3i and two alinedspaced apart upstanding posts 32 and 33 serve to respectively supportthe impact-responsive means and to mount the unit within a container.

For responding to shocks to the container, the impact-responsive meansin this instance comprises a straight spring Wire 34 fixed at one end tothe post 32 and having a free sharp end to puncture and be normallysupported in a target 35 of paper or like easily punctured material.This target 35 forms a closure for the inner end of a bore 36 in thepost 33, and in the operative position of the unit this bore 35 isalined with the inspection window of the container. Preferably the faceof the target disposed towards the end of the wire 34 is covered with apiece of wire mesh 3? as a control and guide for the said wire end. Itshould be noted that the length of the wire 34 is such when horizontallydisposed that its end will just pass through the center of the bore andthus indicate no shocks have been received. However, if the wire isbowed in any direction, its end will be withdrawn from the target andride along the face of the wire mesh 3! until the bowed action isreversed, whereupon the mesh will cause the wire end to be guidedthrough the target eccentric of its center to thereby not only indicatea shock but also to make a record thereof.

For the purpose of causing the wire 34 to respond as above described, animpact weight 38 is mounted thereon at a sensitive location between thewire ends and thus controls the deflection of the wire and itstarget-puncturing functions. By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen thatthe normal set position of the unit will be indicated by the wirepuncture at the center 0 of the target, where it will remain duringshipment of the container unless the latter is subjected to a damagingshock. If and when such shock occurs, the responsive deflection of theweight 38 bows the wire 34 to withdraw its end from the target so thatthe return swing of the weight will re-straighten the wire 34 but withits end puncturing the target eccentric to the center 0. Illustratively,a minor shock may be shown at d on the target and a major shock at 6,but in any instance the eccentricity indicated is proportionate to theforce of the impact.

In connection with the Figs. 7, 8, and 9, it will be observed that witha flexible wire 34, impacts having a component axially of the wiretoward post 32 can cause weight 38 to move toward the post, bowing thewire sufhciently to withdraw the free end from the target to reset same.As the weight 38 responds to any resultant force transverse of the wire,it is practically universal in its response and adequate impactindication can therefore be secured from the single unit of Fig. '7. Thesame is true of the frangible device of Figs. 1 and 2. The indicationsfrom the device of Fig. 5 are from resultant forces effective on theweight 28 transverse of the wire and is therefore effective as a singleunit for most purposes, as an impact axial of the wire would generallyinclude a lateral component sufficient to cause contact of the weight 28with the cylinder 24, whether the latter is frangible or ductile, foreffecting an indication. With the device of Fig. 3, it will be seen thatits primary response to impact is in a plane parallel with the legs ofspring l8. It may be found desirable, although not essential, that asecond unit be provided with the plane of legs of spring N3 of the firstunit substantially normal to the plane of the legs of the second unit,so that an impact response will be indicated by one or the other. Forgeneral purposes it will usually be found, however, that the impactincludes a component in a direction proper to actuate the indicator andtherefore that a single unit may be associated with a single package.

While the invention is not limited to any specific dimension of theunits, it is preferred to keep them relatively small, say, ofapproximately an overall dimension of three square inches. Also, in theforegoing reference is made to a window in the container, but this isused in a broad sense because the invention is not to be construed aslimited to a window since any way of exposing the unit to observation iscontemplated in its use.

It should be noted that where the term ball appears in the specificationand claims it is used in a generic sense and includes any mechanicalequivalent. Thus, the frangible ball l3 may comprise any shape offrangible envelope, and the ball 22 of Fig. 3 can be of any shapecapable of temporary support by and between spring arms of sprin [3.

Other mechanical equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art forthe other features of the invention, and such are to be construed aswithin the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An impact indicating mechanism for indicating impacts of greater thana predetermined relatively minor amplitude on a container susceptible toimpacts of varying amplitudes with which the mechanism is associated,comprising in combination a mass movable in space and rupturable visualmeans in relative juxtaposition thereto, under static conditionseffecting a predetermined visual eifect indicative of the absence ofincidence of impact of greater amplitude than a predetermined minoramplitude upon such container, said mass being disposed to maintain thesaid predetermined visual aspect of the visual means under transitorydynamic impact impulses of predeterminedly minor amplitude but movableunder transitory dynamic impact impulses of relatively major amplitudegreater than said minor amplitudes to effect rupture of the rupturablevisual means to effect a change in the visual aspect thereof indicativeof exposure to an impact impulse of said major amplitude.

2. An impact indicating mechanism as recited in claim 1, in which therupturable visual means 1 is comprised of a frangible element.

3. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a sight opening, a frangible ball, means mounting saidball in said container in alinement with said sight opening, and aweight loose in said ball to respond to a damaging impact on saidcontainer, whereby any such impact fractures said ball to indicatedamage has occurred.

4. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer, a frame arranged for mounting in said container, a frangiblemember carried by said frame, a weight means associated with said memberand mounted to be displaced in response to a damaging impact on saidcontainer for breaking said frangible member, and means for observingthe condition of said frangible member from the exterior of saidcontainer.

5. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a window therein, a frame arranged for mounting in saidcontainer adjacent said window, a frangible member carried by said framein juxtaposed relation to said window, and weight means associated withsaid member and mounted to be displaced in response to a damaging impacton said container for breaking said frangible member, whereby thecondition of said member is observable through said window at all times.

6. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a window therein, a weight, means to support saidweight for movement caused by a damaging impact upon said container,said supporting means positioning said weight in register with saidwindow, and a member mounted in the path of movement of said weight andformed of material yieldable under a blow of said weight to visiblyindicatea change of its condition, whereby the condition of said memberis observable through said window at all times.

7. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a sight opening, a target of puncturable materialmounted in register with said opening, and means including a weightmovably responsive to a damaging impact on said container for puncturingsaid target to indicate the movement of said weight.

8. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a sight opening, a target of puncturable materialmounted in register with said opening, and means including a springmounted weight movably responsive to a damaging impact on said containerfor puncturing said target to indicate the movement of said weight.

9. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a sight opening, a frame mounted in said container, atarget of puncturable material mounted in register with said opening, astraight-ended flexible wire fixed at one end to said frame and havingthe straight end passing slidably through said target, and a weightcarried by said wire to vibrate under a damaging impact on saidcontainer and cause said wire to withdraw from said target andrepuncture said target at a point spaced from the initial puncture,whereby damage to the container is indicated through said opening.

10. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a sight opening, a target of puncturable materialmounted in register with said opening, a flexible wire for puncturingsaid target, means anchoring one end of said wire to support said wiresubstantially normal to said target with its free end contacting saidtarget, and a Weight on said wire movably responsive to a damagingimpact on said container to initially bow said wire and secondarilyproduce an axial thrust to said free end to puncture said target toindicate said weight movement.

11. An impact indicating mechanism comprising the combination of acontainer having a sight opening, a target of puncturable materialmounted in register with said opening, a mesh mat on the inner face ofsaid target, a flexible wire for puncturing said target, means anchoringone end of said wire to support said wire substantially normal to saidtarget with its free end contacting said target through said mat, and aweight on said wire movably responsive to a damaging impact on saidcontainer to bow said wire and produce an axial thrust to said free endto puncture said target to indicate said weight movement.

12. An impact indicating mechanism comprising in combination acontainer, a frangible envelope in the container which when shatteredmakes an audible noise, a weight in the container and supported relativeto the envelope to maintain the envelope formation, said weightresponding to impacts on the container to shatter the envelope toindicate the fact of the impact.

JOHN P. KERRIGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,668,809 James May 8, 19281,710,594 Tapley Apr. 23, 1929 1,842,384 Blanchard Jan. 26, 19322,119,145 Zadig May 31, 1938 2,244,417 Bacon June 3, 1941 2,380,587Fenton July 31, 1945 2,441,162 McPherson May 11, 1948

